Machine for molding concrete blocks



Oct. 30, 1951 F. T. APPLEBY MACHINE FOR MOLDING CONCRETE BLOCKS 2 SHEETS--SHEET 1 Filed May 18, 1949 /N v m TOR Fnzomck I fl nsax HTTORNEX 1951 F. T. APPLEBY MACHINE FOR MOLDING CONCRETE BLOCKS 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 Filed May 18, 1949 ATTORNEY Patented Oct. 30, 1951 UNITED STATES News s MAcfir-NEFo-rtMoLnINGcoNcRETE enocxs "Fredrick T. Appleby, Tronto,' -0ntari0, Canada Application May'18, 1949,-seria1-No9397s v eclaims.

My invention relates to improvements in machines for manufacturing the wll k'nown type of cement block used in buildings.

The object of the invention is to provide an improved machine ofthis kind=inwliich building blocks can be rapidly-made with amini-n-rumof effort on the part of the attendant; and one which willturn out a product which on-accoi'int of'its physical characteristics is readily-acceptable to the building trade in that it-is-capableot withstanding high compressive "stresses-and is smooth walled.

The invention essentially comprises the'novel "construction and arrangement of a machine in which-a matrix box-is-attached to horizontal'supports having end parts which rest upon a' su-pporting frame and are confined-in recesses for upward movement so that theseend parts can be individually vibrated by rotary vibrators mounted thereon to joggle the matrix box. A

-=tamping plate is 'di s p0Sed'- over the matrix -'-box -to act on the material thereinior assuring that it will I be uniformly compacted in an agitating operation. The -tampingplace is" provided with an attachment by which itcan-be swung away to permit 4 of a funnel "to be -brought= into re'g-ister with the matrix box fonfil-lingthe same. hy-

- draulic mechanism is arranged to-raise' a-pa1lt plate to eject *a forme'd building block from the matrix box for removal and curing.

An embodiment of -the invention is:illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in 'which:

Fig. l is a perspective aspect of the 1 machine.

Fig. 2- isa top plan View of them'achineom-itting the funnel and-the tamp'ing'devi'ce.

'of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a 'perspective view; partly broken away,

- of the matrixbox.

Fig. 5 is an aspect of a buildingblokmaihufactured bythe machine.

The machine of my invention is a unitary apparatus adapted to rest upon asupporting surface, such as a floor. In the-selected form herein disclosed it comprehends a sturdy-upright frame, denoted as-awhole by the reference character I, which'is of-theskeletal type an'd' is senclosed by sideplates-Zand top covers 3 desirably detachab-ly secured in place.

At the top of said'frameth'ere" is provided a matrix box 4 in which astandard bui'lding'block,

such as that shown in Fig. 5, isvmoulded. The matrix has a cavity'of the requiredsize, which is formed by the fixed side walls"5 and bottom wall or floor 6, which leaves the top open. [The matrix is rigidly -secured-' to top -cross'members I which arehorizontally-arranged at 'each side thereof and 1 have end parts which project from opposite sides of the matrix i box to rest-1'o'o'sely upon the frame elements 8. Said end parts are serves to actuate thepallet plate.

-" A "wet mix of :eement i poured i-r'ito the matr ix -in; an-ordinary manner frorn anoverhead hopper -toform*abuilding blocl z. iSaid"hopperg-which is A not shownfiis desirably equipped with a delivery "spout i 2 {-Fig. din/him is capable-of being 'swung "to one side'oftheinatrix b'etween pouring operatime so that the-space i above 'thB mQtI'iX Wi H bQ clear of 'obstructionwhen a' formed building block is being removed-"from-t-he machine.

i In order 'to 'prevent spilling of" the materiaFin a filling operationaspecially" designed furinlis employed. *This-funnel'is a box-likemeinberdfi open at its'top andbottom to 'provi'de *a passaige "therethrough, the'size jofwhich conforms" to tl'ie .aomouth ofthe matrix. "Said'funnelis'Tdispcsd over the matrixinreistertherewith for receiv- 1 ing material from thehoppe'r spout '12 in a pour- -ing ope'ration, "and is "'slidable rearwardly of the matrix'so that it"maybeinoved "clear thereof after apouring' operation. To enable -the funnl "t os1id'e it is "supported" on tracks by meansof "wheels l5. 'Said tracksextend"transversely'pf the "ends of the matrix and are "secured tothe frame I in anappropriate manner. "Thewhee'ls 40 15am 'appjliedto saiffunn'el in approved "mann'e'r. According "to "this arrangement "thefunnel is stationed overthematrixonlyat the time that "material is beingf'poured "into the matrix, jari'd when the matrix has been filled the funnel. is

pushed aside by theattendant clear of the mouth thereofso thatit 'Willoccupy'therearward posi- "t-ionin'which it is'shown in Figfl.

v Afterthe' matrix hasbee'nfilled'it isfjoggledby avibratorymechanism in order to compact j'the 0 material therein in afftifih-rtei'iiiirigthabe ifo'r subsequent curing, asisj'the' usualp'ra'ctice.

The vibratorymechani's'm comprises -a inan- 'zontal shaft" fl'fif'arrajn'gedf transversely of said"top 'members and journalled in "said the :parts fshaft "carries an eccentricweight mass "in the form ofa"wightfpiece" I 1* which .iskeyed or other- Wise secured in place. an djprferablyl ted b'etween 'adjacenfiend partsof "said top members. Each shaft is desirably independently driven as by a belt drive l8 from an electric motor l9 supported on the frame I by means of a bracket 20. Said motors are concurrently operated and are controlled by an ordinary switch in the electric circuit from a source of supply, which switch may be conveniently located on the machine. Said weight pieces are oppositely rotated at high speed. In actual practice it has been found that by vibrating the end parts of the top members I a highly satisfactory joggling motion is imparted to the matrix box by which the material is quickly and firmly compacted. Since the top members I are free to move upwardly in the guide slots 8' it will be understood that the rotary vibrators induce vibration in this direction. On account of the effectiveness of the vibratory action a building block is produced, which when cured, is possessed of desirable characteristics in that it is capable of withstanding high compressive stresses 7 and hassmooth faces.

To assure that the material will be compacted uniformly throughout the depth of the mould cavity and to overcome the tendency for it to pack more tightly at the bottom than at the top thereof, it is desirable to employ a tamping plate -2l. Said tamping plate is of a size to fit in the been formed ready for removal. The arm 23 is' pivoted at 24 to a side of the frame I for swinging upwardly and is likewise attached to the tamping plate as by a pin 25 fitted in lugs 26. The swing of said arm may be limited by a stop piece. A handle 2'! is provided on the arm and a tension spring 28 acts on the arm in swinging the tamping plate clear of the matrix box. An end of said 7 spring is connected to the arm and the other end thereof is attached to a part of the frame I.

vSaid spring is so arranged with respect to the pivot 24 that it does not act to swing the arm when the tamping plate is disposed in its operable position at the mouth of the matrix box, as shown in Fig. 3. When the arm is given an initial upward swing by means of the handle 28 the spring then comes into action to continue the upward swing of the arm in order to raise the 'tamping plate clear of the matrix box so that 'a formed building block may be ejected without obstruction.

j The hydraulic mechanism for ejection of a formed building block comprises a fiuid cylinder 29 vertically arranged beneath the matrix box 4 and supported in approved manner on the frame l as by a bracket 39. The ram or piston 3| projects upwardly from said cylinder and carries a cross plate 32 to which is secured a plurality of spaced ejector bars 33. These bars extend upwardly through guide holes in the bottom 6 of the matrix box and abut the pallet plate for raising it under fluid pressure.

The cylinder is actuated by liquid delivered under pressure by means of a standard pump 34 connected to a reservoir 35 by means of the delivery piping 36 and the return piping 31. A control valve 38 is interposed in said return piping and provided with a lever 39 in the form .of a pedal so that the attendant can work it by foot pressure. The pump is driven by an electric motor 40 to which it is connected by a belt drive 4|. A switch 42 is located on a part of the frame I for controlling the electric circuit to the motor. Assuming that the pump is in operation, it is only necessary for the attendant to press on the pedal 39 in order to open the valve 38 to cause the cylinder to raise the pallet plate in an ejection operation.

From the preceding description it will be evident that in the use of the machine the tamping plate 2| is swung away from the matrix box by means of the arni "23, which permits the funnel l3 to be pulled forwardly into register with the mouth of the matrix box for a filling operation. Cement is then poured into the funnel to fill the matrix cavity, after which the funnel is pushed back clear of the matrix box and the tamping plate is swung down into operational position where it rests upon the material. The weight pieces H are then rotated for a brief interval of time by the running of the motors 19 in order to uniformly pack the material by the vibratory motion which is set up and which imparts vibratory movement to said tamping plate. Following the compacting operation the moulded building block is ejected by the hydraulic mechanism and is removed from the machine along with the pallet plate. Another pallet plate is used for making the next building block, and so on.

The invention provides a machine capable of rapidly manufacturing building blocks and one which requires little effort on the part of the attendant. Obviously such changes and modifications can be resorted to as fairly come within the scope of the sub-joined claims.

What I claim is:

1. In a machine for making building blocks, a matrix box, horizontally arranged supporting members rigid with said box and extending outwardly from opposite sides thereof, a frame provided with horizontal seating surfaces upon which said supporting members rest loosely, uide means for confining said supporting members to a vertical movement so that said supporting members and the matrix box may move upwardly as a unit, a shaft transversely journalled on each of said supporting members, a weight piece eccentrically secured to each shaft, and power means on said frame for driving said shafts, said power means including flexible devices for enabling said supporting members to have unhampered vibratory motion under the influence of said weight pieces.

2. A machine as defined in claim 1, and in which the matrix box is open at the top, and in which the supporting members are disposed at the top of the box.

3. A machine as defined inv claim 1, and in which the power means includes an independent drive for the shaft on each of the supporting members, each independent drive comprising an electric motor having a belt and pulley connection with the respective shaft, said electric motor being disposed at the inner side of the shaft.

FREDRICK T. APPLEBY.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the 'file of this patent:.

UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,397,695 Schutt Apr. 2, 1946 

